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San
Jose Mercury News
President is
California Dreamin' about Obamacare
By Kevin McCarthy and Fred Upton
Special to the Mercury News
06/07/2013
California Dreamin', an iconic anthem from the '60s, has stood the test
of time. But Friday, with the president scheduled to visit San Jose,
it's also a fitting refrain for the White House's perception of
Obamacare.
California has become the latest battleground over its effects. The sad
truth about Obamacare's broken promises has been revealed, coupled with
revelations of the rate shock that is on the horizon for millions of
Americans.
Remember the president's promise that "if you like your current health
care plan, you will be able to keep it?" Not true for millions, who are
finding out they will lose their employer-sponsored coverage. Some
labor unions are so upset that they are now urging full repeal.
Remember when Barack Obama was barnstorming the country promising his
health care plan would lower family premiums by $2,500 a year? Sadly,
the average family premium has grown by over $3,000 since those
promises were first made in 2008.
With the bad news snowballing, Covered California -- the state's new
health insurance exchange -- seemed to come to the rescue. Two weeks
ago, Covered California announced a "home run" for consumers,
proclaiming that insurance premium rates would remain steady if not
decrease in 2014. However, a closer look told a different story, and
multiple analyses soon emerged to suggest the state was comparing
apples to oranges to grapefruit.
It turns out Covered California compared the future
Obamacare individual market rates to current rates in the small group
market. News reports indicated the average premium for individual plans
last year was $177 a month while the average premium for a 2014
Obamacare plan would be $321 a month. That's an 81 percent increase.
The president is in San Jose today to embrace the questionable numbers
put forward by Covered California as part of an Obamacare victory tour.
Any honest assessment of Obamacare has established that it will make
health insurance much more expensive. Even Gov. Jerry Brown
acknowledged as much earlier this year, noting in his state budget that
"large rate increases in the individual insurance market are likely".
This is consistent with numerous studies commissioned by states,
actuaries, and health plans.
A recent House Energy and Commerce Committee investigation shows
Americans will pay shockingly more for health insurance. Examining
documents from 17 leading health insurers, the committee found that
consumers purchasing insurance on the individual market may average
premium increases of nearly 100 percent with potential highs eclipsing
400 percent. Meanwhile, small businesses can expect premium increases
of up to 50 percent, with potential highs over 100 percent.
Read the rest of the article at the San Jose Mercury News
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